The Benefits

University Application and Employable Skills

Each programme is designed to give you an outstanding adventure, enhance your cross-curricular learning, while directly contributing towards important conservation or poverty-reduction programmes.

Due to the high educational value of our programmes, your achievements will be rewarded! Each student completing a Global Action expedition receives the widely-recognised ASDAN Universities Award.

Many UK universities acknowledge the ASDAN Universities Award's value, which is highlighted by UCAS for applicants to mention in the Personal Statement section of your UCAS Form:

"include details of - skills and achievements which you have gained through activities such as ASDAN awards, for example, Universities Award - (UCAS How To Apply 2012 Guide for Applicants)

Students have found that the Universities Award has made a significant difference to their UCAS Application.

While giving you an in-depth understanding of A Level or IB Subjects, you can use the field research and work alongside scientists/development experts to enhance your UCAS Personal Statement and University entrance interviews - helping you, in an increasingly competitive environment, to stand out from the crowd.

You can use your field research to complete curricular coursework research for essays, and fulfil fieldwork requirements. Each of our Programmes clarify this, and how the trip can be used to fulfil the International Baccalaureate's CAS and Extended Essay, or your Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

In a competitive job market, managers are increasingly looking for employable skills alongside academic qualifications. Our expeditions are carefully designed to strengthen your skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through outdoor adventurous activities. Our enthusiastic Expedition Leaders have extensive experience in facilitating personal development and leadership skills with students.

At Global Action, we maximise support to our teams:

We believe fundraising is a key element of participants - personal development in the expedition build-up, and we have over 10 years' expertise in helping teams fundraise effectively. If appropriate, we will set up a student-led Fundraising Committee, and advise the team on activities with the maximum financial return.

Our Directors facilitate unique Global Learning Workshops for each team. These dynamic workshops challenge students to engage with complex global issues linked to the expedition's aims, fieldwork and project.

Students participate in small teams to analyse country case studies. Current examples include: environmental protection on Zanzibar Island, the roles of UK charities and poverty reduction in Nepal, and the role of specialist UN agencies in Switzerland.

Students problem-solve, and then deliver short presentations to the group on solutions.

Your health and safety are our top priority. We have a highly comprehensive safety management system which includes pre-departure preparation and during the expedition. This includes: providing detailed risk assessments for each activity, extensive itinerary planning with our trained in-country partners (including the UK FCO), providing each team with experienced and qualified UK Expedition Leaders, 24-hour safety backup, satellite telephones and comprehensive First Aid Kits. Read More

We are a fully-bonded UK-based tour operator, and we offer financial protection to our school teams through our Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) Number 10624. This means you can book with confidence and security.

Once booked, you will receive an exclusive 15% discount off clothing and kit with Cotswold Outdoor (in-store and online) and 10% off vaccinations and medical kit with MASTA, who run the largest network of private travel clinics in the UK.

We offer a flexible payment plan. Deposits and instalments can be tailor-made for your team, helping every participant to access our programme.

There are no hidden costs. We provide an all-inclusive package, which includes: return flights, accommodation, food, transportation, all activities (including fieldwork), and staffing.

We pride ourselves on the highest standards of excellence and a personal one-to-one service. We provide complete pre-departure support to you, and on your return.

Safety

Your health and safety issues are our top priority. Our Directors have over 10 years' expertise in planning school expeditions safely.

We have developed a highly comprehensive Safety Management System, which includes:

Pre-Departure

Your destination is visited by Global Action prior to your arrival to ensure activities are booked, checked and ready!

The school will be provided with a detailed risk assessment for every location and activity, which is constantly monitored and updated to keep teachers' workloads to a minimum.

Extensive itinerary planning with our in-country partners to ensure all activities, fieldwork and project work is prepared to the highest standards. This includes working closely with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Embassies and High Commissions.

We recommend comprehensive Travel Insurance to ensure each participant has comprehensive travel and medical insurance, including air evacuation and repatriation.

To assist participants in their preparation, once you have booked, we will send you a password for the exclusive Global Action Members' Area of our website. You will be able to access detailed information on: fundraising, flights, insurance, visas, country advice, a clothing list, discounts, and more!

During the expedition

Each group is led by a qualified and carefully selected UK Expedition Leader, who has excellent in-country experience, is first aid qualified, and has attended pre-departure briefings and safety backup training with Global Action.

Our office provides a 24-hour safety-backup system through a combination of UK Directors, staff and in-country partners. This ensures a rapid response in the unlikely event of an emergency, giving you complete peace of mind.

We operate strict adult to participant ratios, tailored to the itinerary and activities (this is never higher than 1:8).

Where appropriate, Satellite telephones and highly comprehensive First Aid kits are carried by each Expedition Leader, who is able to communicate 24/7 with our network of trained in-country partners and the Global Action office.

If you have any questions on health or safety, please don't hesitate to call us

Financial Protection

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it.
Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

Fundraising

Fundraising is a key element of participants - personal development during the expedition cycle, and will give you a fantastic sense of achievement, both as an individual, and as a team! We have over 10 years' experience in helping school teams fundraise effectively for expeditions.

After you have booked, Global Action will hold a formal Team Fundraising Meeting at the school/college, to which you can also invite your parents. At this meeting, Global Action will:

Set realistic targets over 12-18 months

Get the team to identify what fundraising activities can be set up as:

Individual fundraising from part-time work in school holidays

Team fundraising tasks during term-time

Help the team select activities with the maximum financial return. This will be your tailored Fundraising Plan.

Confirm your Fundraising Committee, with a date, time, and location of follow-up meetings to start implementing the plan!

Typically, fundraising targets are achieved from the below activities. We will clarify in detail at the Fundraising Meeting how each activity can be quickly set-up.

90% from individual fundraising in school holidays. Examples include:

Bag packing in supermarkets, especially at Easter and Christmas (the busiest periods) where you can earn up to £150 per person per day. Total 6 days x £150 = £900 from this activity alone!

Car boot sale/EBay - include household items that you and your parents/siblings don't want (but make sure you ask the owners first!)

Saving Christmas and birthday money - ask for the cash value of gifts for that year.

10% from team fundraising in term-time. Examples include:

Race night

Persuade the school to have a non-uniform day, with proceeds going to the trip

Themed evening: e.g. local Nepali restaurant, team invites friends, relations. Donated auction and/or raffle prizes can raise up to £2000 on one night, and it is easy to organise!

Group carwash; Group car boot sale; Group cake sales once a week during break time

Selling school leaver t-shirts and sweatshirts

Local business sponsorship; Grant giving trusts for youth development

Team fundraising helps the team build and bond even before the expedition leaves the UK, and will give you a real sense of personal achievement, increased confidence, and develop your entrepreneurial skills!

Your Global Learning Journey

We provide complete support to teams and teachers prior to departure, and on your return.

Team meetings are highly participatory, involving group work and global learning activities (if you choose). This aims to help build teamwork and develop your critical thinking skills around global issues you will experience on the trip.

Meetings are run by Global Action Directors or managers, who have extensive experience in facilitating participatory workshops with schools, universities, businesses and UN agencies.